Home improvement store sales in France: -61 per cent in April

The French spent April entirely subject to the lockdown conditions on account of the Covid-19 pandemic. As a result, the figures from the home improvement sector were worse than in March, the first half of which was not impacted. Sales in the sector plummeted by 61.5 per cent in April compared with those in April 2019. The downturn in March was 49.2 per cent, according to the Banque de France. A drop in sales of 29 per cent occurred between January and April 2020, according to these figures published by the French industry association FMB.
"The majority of DIY stores were chiefly functioning on the basis of drive-ins and click & collect during the 55 days of the lockdown. Stores were only able to reopen from 11 May onwards and gradually resume their operations to counter the deficit," said FMB president Mathieu Pivain, commenting on the situation.